Now Reading: Karnataka halts room bookings at Tirumala Bhavan amid water crisis
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Karnataka halts room bookings at Tirumala Bhavan amid water crisis
The Story in Brief
The Karnataka government has stopped issuing recommendation letters for room and hall bookings at the Karnataka Bhavan in Tirumala due to a severe water shortage at the temple town. The Bhavan, one of the largest pilgrim accommodation complexes, has 350 rooms and 12 dormitories across five blocks.
Minister KS Basavanthappa said drought had gripped the entire peninsular region and the facility was relying on water tankers. Tirumala needs 20 to 25 million litres per day, but water levels in key reservoirs have dropped to an all-time low after six months of deficient rainfall.
After the Brahmotsava festival, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams asked the Bhavan to supply water only for potable purposes and for two hours each in the morning and evening. The Bhavan is currently not entertaining offline bookings and is only accommodating online bookings made three months in advance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The water shortage in Tirumala has forced the Karnataka government to ration supplies, cutting off a key stream of pilgrims who rely on state-run accommodation. The decision means hundreds of devotees who depend on recommendation letters for affordable rooms and halls will now have to look elsewhere. The immediate next step is how long the tanker supply can sustain the Bhavan's online bookings, which remain open but with strictly limited water for freshening up only.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
